Halloween drives me berserk with ennui. And, please, spare me the enraged e-mails about my Grinchiness. I got it: I’m obstreperous. But I’m not one of those people who hates holidays in general. I celebrate all the big ones: Christmas and Chanukah and Easter all get thorough goings over in…
Let’s face it: The zombie trend is probably never, ever going to die. In fact, it’s continuing to spread. The Walking Dead expanded into a second show, zombie costuming still sells like mad at stores, and Hollywood has numerous zombie flicks on the horizon (including Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,…
Ghostfest When you’re awake at 4 a.m., you’re better off having fun than lying there contemplating mortality. And so there’s Ghostfest, an annual tradition at The Torch Theatre, 4721 North Central Avenue. (Full disclosure: New Times contributor Jose Gonzalez runs Torch.) The performance marathon runs for 32 straight hours starting…
SPECIAL EVENTS Alwun House 1204 E. Roosevelt St. www.alwunhouse.org Thrills and chills await at Alwun House’s annual Monsters Ball, which will be occupied by creepy creatures and nightcrawlers aplenty. Performers on tap for this year’s event include Romantasy Cabaret, Opendance, Lady Purple, and others. Hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and other freaky…
The word “invention” ignites thoughts of Leo da Vinci pouring over a flying machine sketch, Edison pacing the floor of his New Jersey workshop, and maybe that one Simpsons episode. But probably not Arizona. Having just passed the 100-year mark in 2012, Arizona’s baby-soft history doesn’t exactly pop with spikes…
Tales of Halloween If you’re like us, you avoid scary movies most of the time — we’ve got enough nightmares already, thank you very much. But in October, when Halloween approaches, we embrace the terror. That’s why you’ll find us at FilmBar this month, screaming in fright as the theater…
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – unless you’re talking about vaping, which produces no smoke, no flame, and only a subtle aroma. The industry for electronic cigarettes is so new, it’s hard to believe that vendors are already hosting an expo. But here it is: Vaping experts from across the country…
At this point, it might seem like everyone’s got a Halloween costume going. Your co-workers are going as the staff of Camp Firewood from Wet Hot American Summer, including Mitch and his beloved can of vegetables. That geek kid you know is building a screen-accurate rendition of Kylo Ren. The…
Where is my hoverboard already? It’s a question Mesa resident Mark Burchard and other Back to the Future enthusiasts have been asking for nearly 30 years since the fictional floating skateboard first appeared in the classic movie sequel. “I’ve wanted a hoverboard since 1989,” says Burchard, a Back to the Future…
This one might give you gersberms. It’s the story of a pigtailed girl in a vest show giddily fans out Goosebumps paperbacks in the famed “ermagherd” meme. Her name? Maggie Goldenberger. She’s all grown up and the subject of a new Vanity Fair article that delves into how that unflattering Polaroid became a…
Okay, kids. This is where it gets interesting. Scottish actress and geek icon Karen Gillan will be heading to the Valley in early December as a special guest of Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. And it’s certainly big news since she’s pretty famous…
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year. By that we mean: Crafeteria 2015 returns on Friday, December 4, to Medlock Plaza. And the good folks at Frances, the Central Phoenix boutique that puts on the annual marketplace, are looking for vendors to hawk their goods at the 10th edition…
Guys do some really dumb stuff, particularly when around a woman they like. Making too many stupid mistakes while still in the courting process can end a relationship before it had time to get off the ground. And that happens all too often in today’s world. Here are 10 dumb…
Was this the best edition of Phoenix Fashion Week yet? We think yes. However, that certainly doesn’t mean the 2015 edition of the runway event at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. Designers were more together than ever, but they also seemed more repetitive than ever. Here’s a look back at…
I was relieved to read that authorities have arrested a man they believe to be responsible for all those awful freeway shootings in Phoenix. Now if only we could track down and punish the desperado who’s cursed us with the man bun, justice would truly be served. Of course, apprehending…
It was a good year for returning to the Phoenix Fashion Week emerging designer of the year competition. In 2015, three brands — Charmosa Swimwear, Medium Apparel Co., and Hues of Ego — that had competed previously and lost were re-admitted to the program, which involves a rigorous bootcamp-style educational…
Day one of Phoenix Fashion Week 2015 was off to an exciting, if imperfect, start, but day two quickly lost that momentum. Thursday night’s emerging designers made an effort to create a spectacle, with Charmosa hosting a fire dancer and Medium Apparel Co.’s runway show started with a performance from…
At Phoenix Fashion Week 2015, change is in the air — and not just backstage. Thursday, October 1, marked the start of some major changes for the fall runway event, now in its eighth year, including nightly awards for emerging designers and a dedication to showcasing a range of work…
It’s actually kind of amazing that Sophia Amoruso took the time to sit down and write a book. Not because she’s too cool for school (though she is), or because she doesn’t care what people think about her rise to fame (though she doesn’t). It’s because she is just too…
Just what does 22,000 square feet look like? This is about half an acre. A typical suburban lot. A cozy swathe. Of course it’s what you do with 22,000 square feet that matters, and DIG IT Urban Gardens has some fertile plans: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,…
The nerd scene in Phoenix is alive and well, and is strongly reflected in this month’s events. Whether you’re a geek, a nerd, a dork, or a Trekkie, there’s plenty to keep you busy this October. We’ve got literary examinations, comic expos, zombie walks, Jason Segel, and so much more…
Heaven Can Wait Your spirit’s in limbo, and your body’s toast. Turns out you died by mistake, destiny-wise, and the admins need to send you back. So you occupy a murder victim’s body, but now you have to avoid people who want to kill you — well, kill him —…
